Midterm issues: Part XI – Important legislative races and a Public Question

Midterm elections for the Senate and House of Representatives are grabbing our attention big time. However, this year there are more open seats in our state legislature than normal. Nine Assembly seats and one Senate seat are on the ballot. There is also one Public Question on the ballot. Down-ballot items are often ignored. However failure of Democrats to turn out and vote on these local races and the Public Question could result in an unpleasant surprise.

In the Senate LD 38 race Joseph Lagana has the advantage of being a three-term member of the state Assembly. He won this position over his fellow Democrat and district mate Assemblyman Tim Eustace to replace Sen. Robert Gordon in this Special Election. He has raised $433,700. His challenger Daisy Ortiz (R) has raised $1,800 – so little that whatever her issues may be, she is getting no attention from the press and there is little or no reporting on the race.

Probably the most famous or infamous candidate is Edward Forchion (LD 15), aka NJ Weedman, running as an Independent. He says, “I think I am popular in the city,” but even he will have a tough race against the Democratic machine. Also in LD 15 Tracy Sinatra (R) is calling for lower property taxes and Justin Tibbetts says he will be a “voice for the people,” but both candidate have spent less than $6,000 on their campaign. Forchion has submitted no financial report to ELEC.

The Senate currently has 25 D’s, 15 R’s and no vacancies. The House has 26 R’s and 54 D’s with no vacancies. It is unlikely that the election results will make much of a change in this composition. You can find how much each candidate has received and spent at the ELEC site here, but good luck on trying to find news on these campaigns. Some additional but limited information is available here.